The PCL goes into the 2019 season with 11 prospects inside the Prospects Live top 100 led by Forrest Whitley. AAA ball is always exciting with the mixture of talent that is on the cusp of making it to the big leagues and players with some experience waiting for their next opportunity. One thing to keep in mind while reading is that Puk is left off the all PCL team. This is due to the fact he will not be ready until the summer. There are a couple of other surprises in there as well. One guy to keep an eye this season is Carter Kieboom. The Nationals are aggressive with prospects, with the injury to Trea Turner and a hot start Kieboom could be out of Fresno quickly.
2019 Top 100 Prospects
5. Forrest Whitley, SP HOU (Round Rock Express)
11. Kyle Tucker, OF, HOU (Round Rock Express)
12. Keston Hiura, 2B MIL (San Antonio Missions)
14. Carter Kieboom, SS WAS (Fresno Grizzlies)
15. Jesus Luzardo, SP OAK (Las Vegas Aviators)
21. Luis Urias, 2B/SS SD (El Paso Chihuahuas)
25. Brendan Rodgers, SS COL (Albuquerque Isotopes)
30. AJ Puk, SP OAK (Las Vegas Aviators)
37. Yordan Alvarez, 1B HOU (Round Rock Express)
77. Sean Murphy, C OAK (Las Vegas Aviators)
98. Griffin Canning, SP LAA (Salt Lake City Bees)
Trending Up
Josh Naylor, 1B/LF SDP
He finally started to hit ball last year for power. The contact was up as well and he is learning how to play OF this season. I believe he continues to tap into that power this season.
Khalil Lee, OF KC
Lee is looking to cut his K rate down and work on his contact. He already walks enough to be a leadoff hitter so with a cut in K rate it could do wonders for him. I think he does both this year and steals closer to 30 bases, compared to 16 last season.
2019 All PCL Team Preseason
C- Sean Murphy , OAK
1B- Yordan Alvarez, HOU
2B- Keston Hiura, MIL
SS- Carter Kieboom, WAS
3B- Kevin Cron, AZ
OF- Kyle Tucker, HOU
OF- Skye Bolt, OAK
OF- Khalil Lee, KC
UT - Brendon Rodgers, COL
SP - Forrest Whitley, HOU
SP - Jesus Luzardo , OAK
SP - Griffin Canning , LAA
SP - Corbin Martin, HOU
Team Reports
Albuquerque Isotopes (LAD)
The Isotopes most intriguing players are Brendan Rodgers and Peter Lambert. Rodgers’ athleticism and plus bat speed profile as a middle or the order bat that will stick up the middle. Don’t let the current Rockies’ depth chart dissuade you. The Rockies have enough depth to allow Rodgers to refine his approach in AAA where he will put up monster numbers. Lambert on the other hand could force his way into the rotation early. Command and control have been there, with a good start to 2019 he could be up with sooner rather than later.
Colorado Rockies Top 30 Prospects
El Paso Chihuahuas (SD)
The Chihuahuas were expected to have Fernando Tatis and Chris Paddack this season, but AJ Preller had other plans as he included both on the Padres opening day roster. Even without the big names the Chihuahuas still have players that are close to making the roster. The next wave are Luis Urias, Logan Allen and Cal Quantrill and Josh Naylor. Quantrill and Urias nearly made the team out of spring. Urias is the future second baseman despite the signing of Ian Kinsler. The young middle infielder has plus to plus-plus bat speed and feel for solid contact which lends itself to projected increase in game power.
San Diego Padres Top 30 Prospects
Fresno Grizzlies (WAS)
Carter Kieboom is making the case that he’s the best SS in the minors. He was impressive in the Arizona Fall League showing quik wrists with plus bat speed. The ball explodes off his bat. Kieboom produces line drives with carry to all fields and has positioned himself to make a splash in D.C. sooner rather than later. The former 1st rounder enters 2019 with only 62 games above High A. Raudy Reed is a power hitting catcher coming off an injury plagued 2018.
Washington Nationals Top 30 Prospects
Iowa Cubs (CHC)
The Iowa Cubs are missing some the flashy prospects names, but still have an exciting bat sent down from Chicago. Ian Happ returns Iowa to improve his plate discipline and defense. He’ll likely put up video game numbers while there. Dakota Mekkes and Dillon Maples bolster the Iowa pen but could be in Chicago at some point. Both have plus fastballs. Oscar De La Cruz missed time due to suspension. He could be fast tracked to a pen role where his stuff plays up. In the rotation, the highest ranked prospect is Adbert Alzolay. He struggled in a small AAA sample in 2018 and looks to rebound. The next wave of Cubs prospects aren’t here yet.
Las Vegas Aviators (OAK)
The Aviators have a good mix of top prospects and “prove it” players. AJ Puk and Jesus Luzardo both should spend some time this summer in Vegas, once both are healthy. Jorge Mateo and Franklin Barreto, both former top prospects, make for an electric middle infield with lots of swing and miss. Sean Murphy looks to continue to build on success of last season as a staple behind the plate. Sheldon Neuse and Skye Bolt both have shown power projection at premium positions.
Oakland Athletics Top 30 Prospects
Memphis Redbirds (STL)
Andrew Knizner is a catcher that impacts the game on both sides of the ball. He has made an effort to add lift to his swing and can drive the ball with authority to the gaps while flashing double-digit HR power. As long as Molina is healthy, Knizner will refine his game in Memphis. Adolis Garcia will hit a ton of HR using the MLB balls in the PCL. Edmundo Sosa and Ramon Urias are an athletic pair up-the-middle. Both have the ability to drive the ball out of the park.
St. Louis Cardinals Top 30 Prospects
Nashville Sounds (TEX)
The Sounds are no longer the AAA for the A’s, but instead for the Rangers. Willie Calhoun returns to AAA to work on defense. While Calhoun, the former Top 100 prospect, might be the biggest name but he is not the best prospect on the Sounds. That honor goes to lefty Taylor Hearn. Hearn has an electric arm. His fastball touches high 90’s with life and his slider is a plus pitch. CD Pelham saw time in the Rangers pen last summer after an appearance in the Futures Game. He’ll need to refine his control and limit the free passes in order to be an effective weapon out of the Texas pen.
Texas Rangers Top 30 Prospects
New Orleans Baby Cakes
The Marlins once depleted system could be back from depths. The Baby Cakes will be headlined by three of the Marlins Top 5 prospects. Monte Harrison with better plate discipline and pitch recognition can turn the corner and start to tap into that power. Isan Diaz has plus power projection as a 2B. Diaz’s swing produces hard contact with loft which will play up in the hitter friendly PCL. Nick Neidert has a live arm with a FB that has natural run. Neidert’s change-up is plus and he shows an advanced feel for sequencing that allows his stuff to play up.
Miami Marlins Top 30 Prospects
Oklahoma City Dodgers (LAD)
Will Smith, Dennis Santana and Tony Gonsolin are the names to watch on this team. Will Smith is an athletic catcher with a strong arm and quick defensive actions. he added power to his profile last season and looks to continue that trend in 2019. Santana and Gonsolin should anchor the rotation. As Santana looks to recapture some of his 2017 success, Gonsolin could prove to be a steal and an asset in LA this summer. He throws a 4-pitch mix with a complimented with a plus curveball and a split-change that can neutralize both sides of the plate.
Los Angeles Dodgers Top 30 Prospects
Omaha Storm Chasers (KC)
Khalil Lee leads a loaded Storm Chasers OF. Paired with Bubba Starling and fan favorite Brett Phillips, the strom chasers boast one of the more athletic outfields in the league. Nicky Lopez is a solid SS with four average-to-plus tools. Lopez has excellent feel for the barrel and sprays line drives to the gaps. He profiles as a major league SS but likely settles into a utility role for KC at some point this summer.
Kansas City Royals Top 30 Prospects
Reno Aces (AZ)
Kevin Cron leads an older roster of former major leaguers including Ricky Nolasco, Abraham Almonte, Kelby Tomlinson, and Ildemaro Vargas. Cron’s carrying tool is plus raw power. He’s had little trouble reaching the bleachers in his career. Expect this team to look a lot different by June with 13 of the Top 15 DBacks prospects starting at AA or lower.
Arizona Diamondbacks Top 30 Prospects
Round Rock Express (HOU)
By far the most talented team to start the year. The Express roster boasts Forrest Whitley, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. Whitley profiles as future ace with four plus pitches coupled with command and feel. He will be in Houston sooner rather than later. There doesn’t seem to be much room on the Houston roster for Alvarez and Tucker in 2019. However, both guys are plus hitters with plus power. Alvarez is an absolute monster while Tucker has flashed 5 tools for a few seasons now. Don’t read too much into the assignment or Tucker’s 2018 showing in Houston. Additionally, speedster Myles Straw and lefty Cionel Perez are on call when the Astros need to add complimentary pieces. Overshadowed in all this talent is Corbin Martin. Martin has everything you would want as a starting pitcher. Plus stuff, good size/strength, a 4-pitch mix with high spin rates, and an athletic delivery.
Houston Astros Top 30 Prospects
Sacramento Rivercats (SF)
The Giants system is void of prospects at the AAA level. With that being said, the roster is loaded with potential future major leaguers. Aramis Garcia profiles a future back-up catcher that can run into a few HRs. Ryder Jones and Abiatal Avelino are utility infielders that stick on the left side. Shaun Anderson, Tyler Beede, Ray Black, Steven Okert, and Sam Coonrod provide value and depth out of the bullpen.
San Francisco Giants Top 30 Prospects
Salt Lake Bees (LAA)
Griffin Canning by mid-season last year became a hot name in everyone’s top 100. Canning features an above-average 4-pitch mix. He’s a high-floor SP that will stick in a major league rotation. If he continues to develop his change-up, the rest of his offerings and command are so good that he could peak as a future #2 SP. Luis Rengifo is another to watch on this list. Rengifo has great instincts on the base paths, which led to 41 steals. Rengifo also makes good contact and can play both middle infield positions, although he will more than likely be a 2nd baseman. Matt Thaiss will start his first full season in AAA. He saw a power spike hitting 10 HR in half a season at Salt Lake. If he can continue to add loft to his swing, the advanced approach and feel for the barrel, Thaiss will find himself in Anaheim for good.
Los Angeles Angels Top 30 Prospects
San Antonio Missions (MIL)
Keston Hiura brings the star power to San Antonio. The future Brewers middle-of-the-order bat is a plus hitter. His swing is short and compact, consistently producing hard contact to all fields. There is some serious thunder in his bat and we should see the power start to play in-game. Hiura isn’t the only stud on the squad. Corey Ray has a lot of swing-and-miss but profiles as a power/speed combo centerfielder. His tools are loud and if he can improve his contact rate, he’ll be a major league CF. Troy Stokes, Jr. is the sleeper. When he does find the barrel, the contact is loud. An assignment in the PCL with MLB balls will inflate his numbers a bit and there is some swing-and-miss that advanced pithers can expose. SS Mauricio Dubon and 3B Lucas Ecerg man the left side. Zack Brown is an advanced arm that has experienced little problem carving up minor league hitters.
Milwaukee Brewers Top 30 Prospects
Tacoma Rainiers (SEA)
Justus Sheffield, Erik Swanson, and Shed Long came over from the Yankees (in seperate deals) and both will have an immediate impact for the Rainiers. Sheffield has the stuff to be a middle of the rotation starter. Swanson has a plus fastball and his slider and change-up are pretty good too. Long is a versatile infielder that produces hard contact. He has 15/20 potential, with a peak season of 20/20. JP Crawford is also starting this season with the Rainiers. Once touted as a top 5 prospect, Crawford has struggled to translate the tools into on-field success.
Seattle Mariners Top 30 Prospects
Robert Baer @Baer24Baer
Jason Woodell @jasonatthegame